Policies fuel extremism, say Muslims

Leading British Muslims will today warn Tony Blair that his foreign policy is fanning the flames of extremism.

In an open letter to the Prime Minister, they claim that his stance on the Middle East is giving ammunition to Islamic radicals.

The 38 Muslim groups who are signatories include the Muslim Council of Britain, the Muslim Association of Britain, the British Muslim Forum, and the Muslim Solidarity Committee.

Other signatories include three Muslim MPs - Sadiq Khan, Shahid Malik and Mohammed Sarwar - as well as three Muslim members of the House of Lords - Lord Patel of Blackburn, Lord Ahmed of Rotherham and Baroness Uddin.

The letter says the "debacle" of Iraq, combined with the recent failure to do more in the Middle East, increase the risk to people living in that region and fuel extremists who threaten people living in Britain.